Rebecca Lea Denton guilty of criminal neglect of three-week-old baby son Alvin

A “neglectful” mother who failed to seek medical care for her seriously injured three-week-old son for 42 hours could have saved his life, a court has heard.

A “neglectful” mother who failed to seek medical care for her seriously injured three-week-old son for 42 hours could have saved his life, a court has heard.

Mother-of-two Rebecca Lea Denton, 35, of Christie Downs, left her “very vulnerable” newborn son Alvin in the care of the boy’s father while she had coffee with a friend in April 2021.

Despite the critically injured boy failing to feed properly, being unusually docile during a bath and being unable to open an eye in the hours after she returned, Ms Denton did not seek medical care for her son. He died 42 hours later.

“In such a young baby, any one of these things should have triggered the defendant to seek medical attention, but certainly in combination the need for medical care was so obvious,” prosecutor Taryn Amos said.

Denton, who wept throughout the hearing, had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal neglect.

The court has previously heard Alvin suffered multiple injuries including fractured ribs and bleeding on the brain.

The injuries were allegedly inflicted by the boy’s father – Ashley McGregor – who allegedly had told police he tripped and fell on the infant.

Mr McGregor has pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter and is scheduled to face trial by judge alone next January.

The court heard Denton had blown second-hand bong smoke at Alvin after Mr McGregor allegedly suggested that Alvin may be suffering from cannabis withdrawals because she had used the drug throughout her pregnancy.

Ms Amos said Alvin had not been feeding properly and did not feed on the night before he died.

Rebecca Denton, who is guilty of the criminal neglect of her newborn son, outside court after an earlier hearing. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

Rebecca Denton and Ashley McGregor have been charged over the death of three-week-old Alvin. Picture: Facebook.

She said Denton reported waking during the night and heard Alvin “gargling and grunting” but did not wake him for a feed. When she again woke the next morning at 6.30am, Alvin was cold and blue.

“It is accepted that the defendant did not cause the injuries to Alvin that resulted in his death,” Ms Amos said.

“However, obtaining medical care for Alvin could have prevented his death and the defendant failed to do just that.”

She said Denton could have sought medical care for her newborn on two occasions she was not with Mr McGregor.

“It appears there was an apathy or a lack of initiative on the part of the defendant in regard to the care of Alvin,” Ms Amos said.

She said Denton had not been completely honest with police and asked the court to impose an immediate jail term.

Indiana Davis, for Denton, told the court her client took full responsibility for her actions and understood the magnitude of her failure.

“She doesn’t want to make any excuses at all … she has a life sentence of her own,” she said.

“Carrying around the knowledge Denton failed to save Alvin will be with her until the day she dies.”

She said Denton was allegedly in a “coercive control” relationship with Mr McGregor, who dictated her movements and “expected obedience” and had not suggested they seek medical help.

“It was his way or the highway,” Ms Davis said.

She said Denton was an otherwise “loving mother” who had made an “incomprehensible decision”.

Ms Davis said Denton had since made numerous steps to rehabilitate including ceasing drugs and attending counselling.

She urged Judge Rauf Soulio, who will sentence Denton at the end of the month, to consider imposing a suspended or home detention sentence.